LILAH KEMP F.A.Q.

Hey gang,

I think that now is an appropriate time for me to answer some questions about this series. It has come to my attention that a lot of people don't really understand what this thing is all about, so hopefully I can clear things up with this post.

1. "Why is it called Lilah Kemp?"
Lilah Kemp is a fictional character from the novel 'Headhunter' by Timothy Findley. She is a schizophrenic librarian, and whenever she reads books, the characters literally come to life and interact with the world around them. I named the series after her because when writers read their stuff out load, it adds another layer of life to their literature. And Timothy Findley is one of my central influences as a writer. I love his work and I think he was a genius.

2. "What is this?"
Lilah Kemp is not open mic, but anyone is welcome to participate.
This reading series is all about giving amateur writers the opportunity to perform along with professionals. It's important for writers to build confidence in their work, and it's important for writers to have new opportunities to share their work in exciting ways. This series has become very different than a typical reading series. Each session involves at least one of the following things: music, sketch comedy, drama, performance art, spoken word, or a film screening. So, this show is really open to any artist living in Halifax, and it's a good way for musicians, filmmakers, comedians, e.t.c. to perform for a different crowd of people.

3. "Why are you still doing this?"
I live alone and I don't have a girlfriend, so I've got nothing better to do with my time. Kidding. Well, not really, but seriously - this is how it all happened:
2010 was undoubtedly the worst year of my life. Can't go into details, but I hit rock bottom and sank even lower. I'm a fiction writer and at the time I was working on a novel (which I will never publish) so, my best friend Panos told me about something called 'The Allan Street Reading Series'. It was a salon-style reading series held in the home of Jenner-Brooke Berger (founder/curator) and in June of 2010, I attended the series and fell love with it. I read a chapter of my book in July and it killed. Everyone laughed at all the things that were supposed to be funny, and it was still to this day the best public reading I have ever done. The warm reception from Allan St. motivated me to write more and I gained a lot of confidence which helped get me out of my funk. Months passed and I was under the impression that Allan St. was over for good. There was nothing quite like it happening in the city, so I started Lilah Kemp in February of 2011 and modeled it after Allan St. I held the series out of my friends houses and after about 6 months the idea caught on and people really responded to it. Since then, I've taken the series in a new direction that allows me to feel creatively fulfilled and gives the performers an opportunity to 'play' for a larger audience. I don't do house sessions very often anymore, but I try my best to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere in the public venues each month. (For the Bus Stop Theatre sessions, Clare helps me decorate the stage area like a living room.) So, this series has become very important to me for a lot of reasons. I'm super passionate about what I do, and Lilah Kemp will stay active for as long as I'm living in Halifax.

4. "I dunno, this still sounds lame to me. I don't like going to boring readings. Why should I go?"
This has honestly become something amazing. There's more to see/hear at this series than just lit readings. There's a party element to the show as well. People drink and there's free food and great times.

5. "Is there an afterlife?'
I don't know. Probably not.

6. "Do you run Lilah Kemp on your own?"
Yes and no. I organize the sessions and come up with the themes, but this series is one of those things that really doesn't work without a lot of people coming together. If it wasn't for the support of my friends and all of those who have helped spread the word, Lilah Kemp would not be active today. This series is independent, but it's open for affiliation with other literary camps or as a fundraiser for public venues. THANK YOU Panos Giannoulis, Jenner Berger, Daniel Joyce, Allison Saunders, Matt MacNeil, Claudia Marchand, Laura Kenins, Geordie Miller, Dereck Thibault, Alison Lang, Veronica Simmonds, Mary Anne Daye, and Clare Waque
...and of course every writer/musician/performer who has participated. I feel very fortunate to have met you all, and to have such wonderfully supportive friends.

-Corey Mombourquette (founder/curator)

WICKED AND WEIRD

Stories about bad behavior or surreal experiences. Tales of pill-popping freaks or tortured creeps. Horror/thriller stories are very welcome here...

With LITERARY READINGS from:
SHANE BEEHAN
CHRIS BENJAMIN
EVAN BROWN
ANDREW HOOD
KELSEY MCLAREN
DAVID PRETTY

A performance of Pj Harvey's 'All and Everyone' from:
KRISTEN WELLS

INTERACTIVE CONSTRUCTION with:
BRIAN RILEY

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25th

FUNDRAISER FOR THE BUS STOP THEATRE
19+
FREE ADMISSION
Doors open @ 8:30

SOMETHING FUNNY

It's difficult to express how excited I am for this show. I've booked a lot of funny people for this episode, and my sketch comedy troupe will be making its debut performance. Comedy has always been a passion of mine, so this show will be unlike any other Lilah Kemp in terms of the organization (there will be comedic stunts) and the performances. Here's the deal:
Tuesday, March 27th @ The Bus Stop Theatre
(8:30-11:30pm)
FREE Admission (but a fundraiser for the Bus Stop)

Performers/readers:
Cheryl Hann
Kate Millar
Geordie Miller
Andrew Mills
Chad Raymond Elder Poirier
Troy Richter
Josh Tibbetts

Hugh Stewart & Paul Doucette (FLAG ON THE PLAY)

Sketch Comedy from:
PiñataRAMA!

The podcast from the lovely anniversary show is now available on the sidebar thingy...
Next month will be the mid-season finale, and I will post the new episode titles/themes sometime over the next few weeks.
Love ya!
C.M.

Love and Anniversaries...

The season 2 launch was wonderfully successful. It was the largest 'house session' turnout we've ever had, and some of that had to do with a great Coast article written by Veronica Simmonds.
We're stepping up the game this month. This is a big one -

It's the 1st year ANNIVERARY of the Series!
It's the launch of the 2nd ANNIVERSAY of the literary journal OPEN HEART FORGERY!
It's arguably the most talented group of people I've ever assembled for one show (Ben Stephenson, Matt Robinson, Winona Linn, Ben Gallagher, Jess Driscoll, Kimberley Cressman and music from Julia Feltham and Catholic Gaydar!

...And it's all happening next Wednesday at The Company House!

EVERYTHING WILL BE OK...

This is it!
The second season will launch:
Wednesday, January 25th @ 6395 North Street (8:00pm)
Literary readings from:

Andrew Patterson
Dereck Thibault
Josh Tibbetts

Plus, a screening of Don Hertzfeldt's wonderful short film "Everything will be OK"

Links and Links to Links...

Here are some links to published works from some of the authors who participated in Season 1...

ANDREW HOOD:
http://www.joylandmagazine.com/stories/montreal_atlantic/i%E2%80%99m_sorry_and_thank_you

http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/dont-come-in-here/Content?oid=2808994

BEN STEPHENSON:
http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/holiday-fiction-more-importent-things/Content?oid=2081512

http://oncetherelivedaboy.blogspot.com/

KELSEY MCLAREN:
http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/holiday-fiction-the-happiest-day-of-your-life/Content?oid=2081515

BEN GALLAGHER:
http://breadandpoetry.wordpress.com/author/bengallagher/

CHRIS BENJAMIN:
http://www.chrisbenjaminwriting.com/chris-benjamin-writing-blog/tag/fiction

NICOLE DIXON:
http://nicoledixon.ca/Writing.html

SUE GOYETTE:
http://www.writers.ns.ca/Writers/g/goyettesusan.html

MATT ROBINSON:
http://mattrobinsonpoet.wordpress.com/

CAROL BRUNEAU:
http://carolbruneau.com/

REMEMBERER (YORODEO, JENNER-BROOKE BERGER)
Stories from GEORDIE MILLER, LAURA DAWE, ANDREW HOOD, and JOSH TIBBETTS:
http://invisiblepublishing.com/rememberer/

JENNER-BROOKE BERGER:
http://jennerberger.com/

*I will be posting downloadable MP3 copies of every episode from Season 1 over the weekend.
Happy Holidays!

Lilah Kemp 2.0

It's still going to be called Lilah Kemp.
It's still going to be a reading series that migrates from venue to venue each month.
It's still going to be awesome.

Season Two will launch next month and each episode will have a specific theme and title. The season will be split into two parts, and will consist of eight episodes.
The first four will run from January - April 2012.
Here are the themes and titles:

SEASON 2.0

EPISODE 1: EVERYTHING WILL BE OK

January wants hopefulness.
Stories and poems about overcoming obstacles and surviving tragedies. Characters that don't give up when everything in their life turns to shit. People who find ways to stay optimistic in a pessimistic world. Stories with happy endings...or endings that at least hint toward a happy ending.
This episode will also feature a screening of the Don Hertzfeldt short film "Everything will be O.K."
There are 4 spots open for literary readings.


EPISODE 2: THEORETICAL LOVE IS NOT DEAD

February wants romance.
Stories and poems about whatever you think love might be. Scenes with wet kisses in the rain. Images of romantic trips to rocky shores or lazy days together in bed. Couples who are deeply in love but just can't make it work. Stories of heartache and rejection are also welcome.
This episode will also feature musical performances.
There are 4 spots open for literary readings.


EPISODE 3: WOCKA WOCKA!

March wants laughter.
This episode will feature funny poems, essays, blogs, letters, or short stories. There will also be two sketch comedy performances.
There are 3 spots open for literary readings.


EPISODE 4: WICKED AND WEIRD

April wants crazy.
Stories about bad behavior or surreal experiences. Tales of pill-popping freaks or tortured creeps. Horror/thriller stories are very welcome here, or stories that are just plain fucked-up.
This episode will also feature a performance from a play.
There are 4 spots open for literary readings.


The titles and themes of the last four episodes will be announced over the coming months. The second half of the season will run from August - November 2012.
If you would like to participate in the first half of season two, please choose a theme and contact me through this blog or through Facebook.

This is going to kick ass.

-Corey Mombourquette (founder/curator)